LondonNeil

I'd thought about playing with a bungee in that way. To me it seems a better idea than lugging counter weights about. I can't see your quoted bits on my phone... I'm hoping it's a photo of your elasticated set up! Yes I probably ought to give it a chance and do the stuff I've read improves it. -dismantle, clean the synta 'grease' off and replace with a bit of lithium or copper grease - play with bungees - if backlash is a problem washers can be added in various places to remove excess play -a new nylock nut

You're a wicked man, you're speaking to my weak side!

I've seen threads for that

No it's not end of life, it's fully functional, just not for a scope I have. I'm most impressed John got that c5 sct on one though. Wedge would be a greatt idea except.... it won't with my scope. The problem is with higher alt targets the c o g of the ota is well behind the alt pivot so with an ota other than a very small and light one it can't hold it .... it just sags away. It would do the same being used as a wedge wouldn't it?

Good effort! Its something to be proud of! Have you tried it much yet? Is it in the 'its pretty decent for £35 and was lots of fun to make' bracket or are you now the proud maker and owner of optics norm costing considerably more?

Hopefully FLO will deliver me a new steel tripod and gtix this coming week, yay. I will then have an unloved and unnecessary lightweight alu tripod and az3 mount. I need help deciding what to do with it. Burn it with fire? Sacrifice to the god of clear skies? Repurpose (shudder!), bin, or sell (is it even possible?) This is the az3 and tripod that is packaged with a skywatcher st120. In terms of costs the package is £379 but the ota is £299. However the ota still comes with rings and also a dovetail, I'll be keeping the rings (and buying dovetail.... should arrive with the gtix) so just tripod and az3 is....£50 ish in 'cost'. In terms of function i actually thought the tripod ok, and belive the az3 is OK for smaller scopes like the st80, its just far from man enough with a 120 and 2" eps. So maybe of use to someone for a small scope, or for binoculars maybe? (A short person...or seated) I can't imagine selling it for more than a tenner plus postage though, and would I find a buyer quickly? See my problem works be I'd see an st80 or skymax 90 or something before I sold the tripod and mount and somehow I'd end up with that..... which is daft...I do not want to go down that route. Your advice please. Stick it in the classifieds at a tenner plus postage, or bin it in some amusing sacrificial manner that benefits the whole community by pleasingc the god known as 'Cloud'?

I think that's stunning! Dob, eq platform and smart phone, superb!

That looks very smart, if it works as good as it looks then we'll done indeed!

Blimey, February isn't going well it's it! Not much to look forward to in the forecast either. Oh dear.

Feeling chuffed. I picked up a copy for just £3.48, used but good. Biblio books aka brit books. They get shocking reviews on trust pilot etc so I fully expected it wouldn't turn up and I'd be claiming a refund from the credit card company, but no! It's arrived in good time. At that price I feel like keeping an eye out for a second copy to just scrawl on when at the scope!

I just found a youtube about astro hopper, it looks great and I look forward to trying it out! Thanks for sharing your work!

I've just had this pop up on YouTube It looks interesting! I found the site here https://artyom-beilis.github.io/astrohopper.html It's cloudy and drizzly so no idea if it works!

What are you after? the guy on astrobuysell has the set 6.5, 9, 12,17.5mm available ££160 each. He did have the 14mm too.... did 🤭 I might have the phone number of a guy called Steve.. ..

If its still there, add it to your watch list. The seller gave me an offer of a tenner less.

I bought my first scope mid January and got 4, or was it 5, sessions in my first 2 weeks. Where's the problem? Then February started.....ooooooh.

Yes that's a comment I'd agree with, at rrp Hyperion are £120 ish and that's a whack. As I said though, Hunt and they are £40-60 used though which isn't so bad.... where as a used Morpheus is still 3 or 4 times that and I wouldn't consider as mid range (although I know its far from top range!) For completeness, astrobuysell has a set of used Morpheus...s (Morpheii?) Listed, £160 each.

Thanks Mark. I've lots to learn through yet to have experience! I got the impression the other day when looking at orion that the stars nearer the outer edge of the view were distorted or out of focus, this was using the ST, so yes but perfect. The Hyperions can run as proper 2" eps though, it's great to unscrew the first lens piece and get all that extra light.... although they said I've not done any comparisons yet so maybe I'm not getting any advantage ..... more learning needed! Prices though...I just searched, 1 used Morpheus on ebay at £170, probably a fair price for a £250 rrp EP. I got a set of 4 Hyperion, plus the case, from a member here for that. Tempted by the Morpheus though tbf 🤣

I've only got one Morpheus (6.5mm) and yes it's great, but it's twice the rrp. My perception is they aren't nearly as available used either. If you chance across them though, grab them.

No love for Hyperions? Look around for used and these aren't hard on the wallet, particularly given the versatility if used with tuning rings

For storage I mean. If you remove the finder scope to store your tube away in a neat box or whatever, will the finder point in the same place when next put back on?

Oh I expect CNs for a looooong while! I've got the Hyperion I mentioned on its way ... in fact along with several others! All bought from another member. I'm also waiting on FLO having ordered the gtix and decent tripod, extension tube and dovetail...... hopefully all the bits needed for the new double set up (st120 and mak127), although I'm sure to have forgotten some screws or something that will have me even more frustrated! While spending far too much at FLO I pushed the boat and added a 1.25" X 32mm plossl for some low mag searching with the Mak. Just an astro essentials so not costly but judging by the reviews they seem well regarded, even bargain category. From what I read 30-32mm in a 1.25" is the longest FL before the FOV gets restricted, otherwise I'd have looked for a 40mm. With all that on the way it'll be cloudy for quite a while! 😂

Yes great to meet you Mark, a gent! I'm very pleased to have your Mak127 ... the weather forecast is annoying though! That set up looks good now Mark! SuburbanTak indeed!

I've been thinking.... these are so simple yet £55...a competent tinkerer could diy better for less and started some searching First a stepper motor (slow and high torque) https://www.skysmotor.co.uk/goods-2208-Nema-17-Stepper-Motor-17HS15-1504S-X1-45Ncm-12V-15A-4-Wires-with-1m-Cable-and-Connector.html A flex coupling like this (although not this size) https://www.skysmotor.co.uk/goods-1721-8mm-10mm-Flexible-Shaft-Coupling-ST-FC09-18x25mm.html One or two of these bits of bracketry and you dont even need to mess with sheet metal https://www.skysmotor.co.uk/goods-2556-Nema17-Alloy-Steel-Bracket-Bracket-for-Planetary-Geared-Motor.html A controller from ebay, I won't link One as my knowledge is thin on drivers/ I'd need to research... but they seem to be just a few quid. A box and battery Total likely half the skywatcher one and I suspect it would be much better. BUT THEN! I came across this from astro oasis https://www.astroasis.com/en/focuser/44.html It looks so much better! It should be your say, it's many times the price .... welll it is on FLO but..... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006103603360.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=19108228023&albag=&trgt=&crea=en1005006103603360&netw=x&device=m&albpg=&albpd=en1005006103603360&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwvKtBhDrARIsAJj-kThMyE15mNz6fOqFa_mM1rVaaSRrhGBRvuWFXK-GtSYXX0V8_iUrj_UaAm0NEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&aff_fcid=b516b6150ed949fba7865af42aef50d1-1706892191134-04234-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=b516b6150ed949fba7865af42aef50d1-1706892191134-04234-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=e57ea8d76ffc4a66aadfa15dff6bbebc&afSmartRedirect=y Now like many Ali express adverts it's baffling as to what you actually get.. . But I think you get mostly everything in the v power bundle for £25 I might try

Just on the north side of the ridge, at the bottom. I cycle into work in Victoria and go along Croxted Road the road parallel. Yes I know, show me a building in South London without some cracks, haha.

You know where it's name comes from? It has a 'spa' or waters. The spring water was said to be better than Bath and the spas were twice visited by Queen Victoria. The bottom of the slope, where the houses start again were small lakes, there was a maze and some buildings, an auditorium or something. There is still a small spring all year, I've never seen it dry, and many places in the surrounding area are very wet..... my own back garden is a swamp most winters hence I can't use it much. The garden also has the house restricting views south and lots of large oak trees (Norwood =North wood..... its a very green locale) . I know the bits of the Lawns that are dry though.... the all weather ballcourt for a start, but also the top near the spring is actually a dry and firm ground. I taught my kids to ride their bikes there too! All 3 doing their first unsupported pedalling at the Lawns. I guess Mr H you aren't nearby any more though ..Yorkshire is quite a way away!